Factors associated with delay in diagnosis among tuberculosis patients in the north of Iran

  • Mahmood Moosazadeh Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5452-514X
  • Motahareh Kheradmand Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4843-302X
  • Mohsen Aarabi Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
  • Mahdi Afshari Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3159-8741
  • Mohammadreza Parsaee Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
  • Asghar Nezammahalleh Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
  • Amirhossein Hessami Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1219-1081
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13181/mji.oa.204476
Keywords: delayed diagnosis, Iran, tuberculosis
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Abstract

BACKGROUND Recognizing factors that affect delay in diagnosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is critical. This study aimed to identify such factors among TB patients in the north of Iran.

METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed patient’s medical records from the TB registration system of the Health Deputy of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran that was responsible for the TB registry in the province from 2007 to 2017. All hospitals affiliated with the university, including private hospitals, reported TB cases directly to the health deputy. Patient’s gender, age, TB smear result, TB type, imprisonment, diabetes, nationality, residence area, and drug use were considered factors of delay in diagnosis, which was defined as a delay of >30 days between symptom onset and diagnosis. Data from 3,453 patients were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression models.

RESULTS The frequency of patients with delay in diagnosis was 67.7%. There was no association between delay in diagnosis and gender (p = 0.194), TB type (p = 0.140), and diabetes (p = 0.198). On the other hand, old age (≥60 years) was related to delay in diagnosis (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.12–1.68; p = 0.002). The chance of delay in diagnosis in prisoners was lower than in non-prisoners (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.46–0.82; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS Old age was a risk factor for delay in diagnosis, and interestingly, prisoners had been diagnosed significantly faster.

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Published
2021-03-25
How to Cite
1.
Moosazadeh M, Kheradmand M, Aarabi M, Afshari M, Parsaee M, Nezammahalleh A, Hessami A. Factors associated with delay in diagnosis among tuberculosis patients in the north of Iran. Med J Indones [Internet]. 2021Mar.25 [cited 2024Apr.18];30(1):60-5. Available from: http://mji.ui.ac.id/journal/index.php/mji/article/view/4476
Issue
Vol. 30 No. 1 (2021): March
Section
Community Research

Copyright (c) 2021 Mahmood Moosazadeh, Motahareh Kheradmand, Mohsen Aarabi, Mahdi Afshari, Mohammadreza Parsaee, Asghar Nezammahalleh, Amirhossein Hessami

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